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The ‘R’ rated double Sweet Savage
plus Terror Eyes closed the drive-in on
April 18, 1984 and summed up how the
films and the patrons had changed over
the years. Village immediately removed
all equipment including the screen.
The site was purchased by Trash &
Treasure Australia Pty. Ltd., which had
started a Sunday market there in the
1970’s. The market traded uneventfully
for many years. In 2001, after lengthy
negotiations, approval was granted to
Anthony Madigan and Matthew Kilderry
to operate a drive-in theatre on the site.
Two steel screens were erected after
much difficulty: the assembly of screen
1 was delayed for a week due to freak
winds.
The old snack bar was rebuilt as the
Lunar Cafe, a brand new projection
block was constructed and the entire
site refreshed.
The frame of the former Village
illuminated sign on the highway was
recycled to display a large ‘Lunar’ sign.
Below it film titles were displayed with
movable Wagner letters.
The Lunar Drive-in Dandenong
opened on September 19, 2002,
Melbourne’s first new drive-in for 30
years, a feat which earned it solid
media attention.
Opening films were Goldmember
(Austin Powers), Lilo and Stitch and
Stuart Little 2.
The author joined the team at
Lunar Drive-in in June 2003.
Screen 3 opened on September 18,
2003 and in 2004 a third ticket box was
added.
In 2006 the gravel ramps for screens
1 and 3 were totally rebuilt and sealed.
New entrance roads were also laid down.
Projection equipment consists of
two Philips EL 4000 (DP70) Todd - AO
70/35mm projectors for Fields 1 and 3
and a Century DAW2 projector for
Field 3.
Lamphouses are Strong units
running 5,000 watt xenon lamps.
Philips/Kinoton platter systems supply
film to all projectors.
FM transmitters broadcast the high
quality FM stereo soundtrack to cars in
each field. Technical work was by
cinema and drive-in engineer Peter
Ricketts (and a CATHS member).
The Lunar, is one of three drive-ins
From the top: Screen 2 under construction in September 2002. The foundations of
operating in Victoria, and each one is a
the two previous screens were uncovered in the excavations.
triple screen. The last time Melbourne
Two weeks in and Rove Live was also telecast direct from the field.
had three drive-ins was back in 1990.
Three ticket sellers and three carhops often sell for over an hour in order to get the
crowd through the gates.
30 2007 CINEMARECORD